Sudanese giants Al Hilal to feature in Tanzania Premier League next season
What you need to know:
- The decision comes amid the ongoing unrest in Sudan that has forced the suspension of sporting activities.
Dar es Salaam. In a surprising move, Sudanese football giants, Al Hilal, will next season compete in the Tanzania Mainland Premier League under special conditions, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has confirmed.
The decision comes amid the ongoing unrest in Sudan that has forced the suspension of sporting activities. To bolster competition and promote the Tanzanian league, Al Hilal will be allowed to compete in all matches, but their points won't be counted towards the final standings.
"We believe Al Hilal's participation will significantly benefit our league," said Clifford Mario Ndimbo, TFF Information Officer.
"They are a big club with an excellent reputation, and their presence will generate excitement and provide a real test for our teams. Additionally, increased media coverage is expected to boost revenue for Tanzanian clubs," he said.
Ndimbo clarified that Al Hilal's involvement will be similar to a series of exhibition matches, playing against all the Tanzania Premier League teams throughout the season with their results not affecting the league standings.
The TFF has also taken advantage of the presence of Sudanese referees currently residing in Tanzania, where they have been training but unable to officiate due to the situation in Sudan.
According to TFF, the Sudanese match officials will also, from next season, be allowed to officiate games in the Tanzania Mainland Premier League.
The move, according to TFF, aims to enhance the overall quality of officiating in the competition.
TFF's decision marks a unique development in Tanzanian football history.
It remains to be seen how Al Hilal's participation and the inclusion of Sudanese referees will impact the upcoming Tanzanian Premier League season.
